If the defense improves like it appears it will, it must first begin with the defensive line. The defensive may end up being the most improved area on the team. Some may doubt this to be true because one of the biggest points of consternation for Bruin coaches and their fans was the lack of stopping the run.

How could a defensive line that had more holes in it than Swiss cheese improve with basically the same talent coming back.

The biggest reason for UCLA's failures on defense a year ago was because they couldn't stop the run. There were many reasons for this but the simple fact was the UCLA defensive front was severely outmanned especially once their star defensive tackle Kevin Brown went down with an injury.

Brown was done before the opening game of the season and never played a down in 2005. The plain truth is Brown was the one player the Bruins could ill-afford to lose.

The defensive line lost its anchor when Brown, who is nicknamed "Bear", was lost for the year. The football gods weren't satisfied when the "Bear went into early hibernation as a matter of losing Bear was just the beginning.